During the course of her forty-six year teaching career Ardeth De Vries has taught high school, college, university, and adult education classes. She has offered seminars and workshops for hospitals, hospice personnel, and the general public on a variety of topics ranging from literature, psychology, spirituality, dreams, self-esteem, death/dying and animal welfare. As an animal welfare advocate, Ardeth's work with animals includes: walking dogs and spending time with cats at a local animal shelter, fifty years of rescuing abused and neglected dogs, the operation of a nonprofit organization created to assist local residents with veterinary expenses for their companion animals, and serving as end-of-life consultant, animal loss counselor, newsletter editor, writer, blog mistress, Board president, and Executive Director for Old Dog Haven, a nonprofit organization that offers hospice care, assisted living and placement assistance for unadoptable senior dogs in western Washington. Ardeth's first book, First Light: Animal Voices in Concert, (2006, Publishing Works) is a collection of stories about what animals teach us. Many of the dogs featured in the book are shelter dogs that once were guests at the WAIF shelter in Coupeville, Washington. A Space Between (2011, River Sanctuary Publishing) is a metaphysical novel about possibilities, lessons and perception. Old Dog Haven: Every Old Dog Has a Story to Tell (2014, Bennett & Hastings) is a celebration of hope, transformation and life lessons taught by old dogs and the people who love them. When I Grow Old I Will Wear Flowers: Thoughts About Senior Dogs (2024, Bennett & Hastings) is a series of essays about living with and loving senior dogs and understanding what they teach us. Ardeth lives in Coupeville Washington with her partner and current family of five senior rescue dogs. Proceeds from book sales will be donated to animal welfare organizations.
